Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 5/94 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-002882
IRON MAN #304
Direct edition Iron Man from the 1994 armor-transition storyline
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | May 1994 | Modern | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows sharp corners, strong glossy surface, and no visible spine stress or ticks. Colors appear vibrant with no fading or staining, and edges look clean without chipping. Book is in a protective sleeve which limits close inspection of texture and minor surface wear; interior and back cover were not assessed.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $1 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $4 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $130 |
// Archive commentary
Iron Man #304 appeared in May 1994, part of the early-1990s stretch of the series that followed Tony Stark's return to the armor after the introduction of James Rhodes as War Machine. The issue is a standard chapter in an ongoing superhero narrative rather than a landmark installment: it introduces no new characters of lasting significance and carries no first appearance, death, or origin story that collectors track as a key moment in Marvel continuity.
Market data reflects this status. Certified population is substantial, with 266 of 270 CGC Universal copies recorded across the census, and sales activity is concentrated in the higher grades, where nearly a hundred transactions have been logged at 9.6 and 9.8 combined. Pricing is modest and grade-sensitive in a classic Modern Age pattern: values stay flat and low through the mid grades before rising sharply at the top of the census, where 9.8 copies command a clear premium over 9.6 and 9.4 due to the difficulty of achieving a pristine label on a book of this vintage and print run.
This is a title that trades primarily as a completist or run-filler purchase for Iron Man and War Machine collectors rather than as a speculative or investment-grade book. Raw copies in low and mid grades see minimal demand and price accordingly, while CGC 9.8 examples attract steady interest from census-chasers and grade-completionists willing to pay a premium for top-of-population certification. Expect the book to move consistently but unremarkably at the low end, with virtually all meaningful value concentrated in gem-mint slabbed copies.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-002882 | ~9.2 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
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